time is whizzing by

Three weeks from today we pack up Nick and Allison. We move them the following day. Time is going by and there is no moment to stop and breathe and enjoy. First Katie and Rick move and now the Nick Millers - and the potential is there for a move by the Stump family. During these next weeks we have a party for Austin, a yard sale and work, work, work. I want more time.

harry potter

Who has finished the book?

more goodbyes

we all had a great day at marc and kathryn's home - good food and even better company



cousins enjoying each others company and stocking up on memories of each other

reagan at the office

filing away papers already and beginning a pattern of organization

work can become boring so taking a break is important to keep happy

after harry potter world

Time to play in the playground adjacent to the hogsmeade village. slides, rides and balance beams - plus playmates to make up games with

potterpalooza

Austin took three good aims at this game - and just missed dunking the dementor

traveling through azkaban safely is a very difficult thing to do - many obstacles to avoid and austin avoided them all and chased after dementors and other evil doers from the wrong side!

i have my magic wand and you can't come any closer to me!

SEE THE DEMENTOR GRANDMA?! WAND OUT AND READY!!!

EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!!!!!

after escaping the giant spider (see web) austin poked his wand at hidden dementors

it was fun to see all the people in costume - from hogwarts students to hagrid to umbridge
couldn't resist a snap of this boy - as he was one of the closest to what i visualized as HP

this and that and here and there

trying to catch up on days and days of non-posts is ludicrous, yet there really are tons of things to note-things important to me more than anyone else...

1. hey, we are starting to catch up at work- thanks to the wonderful help of Chris Kennedy - who is now on board half time - and i can't emphasize enough how good this feels to me. i was beginning to think it would never happen. i admit to wanting to take some days off and NOT have to go in at other times(and work extra to make up for the work that is missed). with help, that should change - and to add another positive to that - chris is also fun to work with.

2. nick pointed out he has about 5 weeks before they move. katie maybe one week? wow - two moves within a little over a month - and somewhere in there we hope to sandwich in a yard sale to get rid of some of our excess items - especially important for those who are moving. this all can be a little overwhelming - and not just the move itself - but the fact that everything is about to change for all of us. i have enjoyed the fact that the family has all been living practically on my way home from work! that has been perfect.

as much as i mention how much i am going to miss the grandkids - which i will immensely, i should say that I actually will miss as much the grown-ups. nick and al- and katie and rick add tons to our lives, and their moves will leave a hole in our day to day lives. still, hooray for the opportunities in front of them!!!!!

3. i cut my hair off - pretty short - the first time since nick was a baby - and i like it. and even more important --it only takes about 5 minutes in the morning to fix. i am a big fan of that! in addition, i am HOPING to actually start getting some exercise now - not to get skinny (no hee haws please) - but to make sure that as i keep aging (can't stop that) -i keep healthy and mobile.

4. bud's moods change daily, of course, but he does do better with more contact with people, so call him when you can (he thinks no one wants to call him) and those of you moving away, how about dropping a letter in the mail once a week. it would give him a real boost. i may try to get him connected to the internet still, but worry about his gullibility with internet scams - so would want all the child-protections in place. anyone know how to do that?

5. cousin eric is going on a church mission soon - maybe call him and cheer him along the way?

new beginnings

Isn't the Sabbath, or Sunday technically the 7th day - our day of rest? Then why, psychologically, does it seem more like a new beginning to me? I kind of feel like IT is the day to start over- the day to give a new start to my new week? It is the day I usually make new plans for the upcoming week, the day I set new goals, the day I actually TRY to get motivated to do better in anything and everything - from being nicer to working harder at things like cleaning my van or eating healthy. Is Sunday the beginning or end of the week- to all of you?

just more pictures because i like them

trying to get a close up while in my lap

nick at his most normal ... if there is such a thing

looking angelic - don't you think?

cozy and cuddly

babysitting baby r

phones are for more than talking... they are good for teething too apparently

reagan kept wanting to chew on the camera and reaching for it - so this pic was hard to get

hitting things together - clapping hands - reagan excels at these motor skills!


making faces at grandma




babysitting is a blast. i highly recommend it to anyone - of course, it helps to have such perfect kids to babysit - and no prejudice here, but my grandkids are perfect to me.

Fun at grandma's

even molly likes to come home for a sleepover - both she and austin shared reading time at grandma's house before a good night's sleep. austin also loved spinning on stool as you can see.

old navy

karyna wanted to help austin put together all the animals that were part of a particular toy

austin so much likes to play with karyna - and reagan - hope it lasts with his own baby.

nayeli was showing her nurturing side with babydoll - for a few minutes anyway - until the purse and lipstick became more interesting to her - at which point baby was thrown in a toybox

say what?


old navy had a 50% off sale - which called to allison - and which i sent molly ... and so the kids opted to not shop and instead to stay home with fun and exciting grandma instead of their boring mommies

4th of july with the nick miller family

nice face nick...
we decided to take toys outside for karyna - but eventually the grass and sticks proved more interesting to her

something fall in her hair?

this is what the lazy hazy days of summer are all about. outside and inside we did almost nothing but relax (until the fireworks). nick continually refuses to take a normal picture!